Oil burner



E. W. THOMAS OIL BURNER May 13 1924. 1,493,653

Filed Sept. 16 )922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 DWARD \AL THOMAQ grwvmtoz,

I 6 WWW May 13 '1924. 1,493,653

E. w. THOMAS OIL BURNER Filed Sept. 16 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EDWARD W. TH ca ms ZIHUQ'IH'OL 35% WWW Patented May 13, 11924. 7

EDWARD W. THOMAS, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

OIL BURNER.

Application filed September 16, 1922. Serial No. 588,690.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD lV. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, Harris County; Texas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Oil Burners, of which the following is a. full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to oil burners adapted particularly to spray liquid fuel in an atomized condition into the fire box of a steam boiler.

The object of the invention is to construct a. burner that will thoroughly atomize and partly gasify the fuel before it is discharged from the nozzle of the burner, and to thus obtain a most efficient combustion and a resultingfuel economy.

Another object is to provide a burner which may be adapted to handle both heavy and light grades of fuel oil with efliciency.

Another object is to construct a burner wherein the spraying portion may be replaceable when worn. Other objects and advantages will be set forth in the specification which follows. Referring to the drawings herewith wherein like numerals of reference are applied to like parts in all the views. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my assembled oil burner; Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section therethrough; Figs. 3 and 1 are top and bottom plan views respectively of the spraying plate. Fig. 5 is a perspective view thereof, Fig. (Sis an assembled view of a slightly different embodiment of burner, and Figs. 7 and 8 are top and bottom perspective views respectively of a different embodiment of spraying plate.

In carrying out my invention, I contemplate taking the oil into the upper chamber of the burner. and drawing the oil downward upon a spraying plate by means of a jet of steam which is projected against the said plate through a lower steam chamber on the burner. Referring tothe drawings 'it will be noted that I have an upper oil chamber 1 having the rearward end somewhat enlarged and having a threaded socket 2 therein for connection with an oil-conducting pipe 3 leading to a source of supply of oil.

The lower side of the chamber a for the oil is open centrally but is closed at the forward end by a wall 5, and is adapted to lie closely against a spraying plate 6 immediately below the said oil chamber.

The spraying plate 6 separates the upper oil chamber from the steam chamber 7 immediately below the said plate. This chamber has a threaded socket 8 at the rearward end for connection with a steam-conducting pipe 9 leading to a steam boiler or other source of supply. The forward end of the steam chamber is solid and forms a projecting lip 10 extending somewhat forward from the oil chamber and the spraying plate as shown particularly in Fig. 2. It is open at the rearward portion at 11 to allow the passage of steam into the lower portion 12 of the spraying plate 6. There is a forward extension of the steam chamber at 13 in the member 7 which allows for expansion and contraction of the burner under the influence of heat.

Between the two chambers I have fitted a sprayingplate 6 previously referred to.- This plate is of the same general size as the oil chamber and tits closely against the two chambers at its sides and its rearward end. As shown particularly in Figs. 4: and 5, it is hollowed out toward the rearward end. to form the chamber 12 referred to. andthis chamber is separated from the forward mixing chamber 14 by means of a bridge 15. This bridge 15 is removable from the plate and is set into the plate itself, preferably in the manner shown. A central bore 16 is formed between the chambers 12 and 14, cylindrical in general outline and the I-shaped bridge 15 is rounded at both ends as shown at 17 to fit tightly within the opening 16. This is a so-called tapping fit, so that the said bridge may be driven in place, and when desired may be readily removed. The central bridge portion of this member is cut away slightly on the lower side as shown at 18 in Fig. 5. so as to allow the passage of steam from the chamber 12 to the mixing chamber. There are other passages through the bridge including a central passage 18 shown in dotted lines in Fig. a, and two side passages 19. These side passages are so cut as to converge at a point about midway of the chamber 14. It will thus be seen that the steam will be projected from the rearward chamber 12 in a thin sheet through the opening 18 at the lower face. and through the central passage 18, and two of tire brick withinthe furnace.

lateral converging passages 19. The oil is admitted from the chamber 1 above this plate into the mixing chamber 141- through a. vertical passage 20 immediately forward from the spraying bridge 15. The forward wall of the spraying chamber 14: is curved. downwardly to a point spaced slightly above the lower extension or lip 10 to provide a nozzle outlet, 21.

Thus when the device is in operation the oil or other liquid fuel will be fed through the pipe 3, chamber 4 and passage 20, to the spraying chamber on the lower side of the plate 6. Steam will enter through the pipe 9 and opening 11 to the chamber 12, and from thence through the central passage 18 directly upon the stream of oil, thus tending to break the oil up and throw it forwardly toward the downwardly curved portion of the spraying chamber 14. At the same time a flat jet of steam will issue through the passage below the bridge at 15, directly on to the stream of oil. The two convergiug jets of steam through. thepassages 19 will come together at a point where the jet of oil is broken up. by the direct passage of the steam through the other channels. There will be a tendency therefore, to agitate and break up the oilthrough the extreme force of the steam projected against the oil as it is drawn downwardly through the passage 20. This will cause the oil to be atomized within the chamber 14:, and in this atomized state it will be projected forcibly tln.-ough the constricted orifice 21 in a flat jet. into the fur nace. This jet, because of the. diverging walls 22 on the lower (IllfllIJbQl', will be formed into a fan-shaped spray. This spray will be very finely atomized, and because of its mixture with the highly heated steam, will be partly gasified, and thus will effect a very thorough and eflicient combus tion of the fuel within the tire box.

The three parts constituting the burner are formed with holes or openings 2-1 therein, adapted to receive set screws or bolts 32, which serve to clamp the parts of the burner rigidly together so as to allow no escape of steam or oil around the edge of the burner.

The forwardly extending lip 10 will serve to project this flame in a horizontal direction when desired. It is desirable however, in some forms of boiler where the firebox is curved toward the forward end, to direct the flame slightly upward toward the baffle This may be accomplished by curving the forward end 10 upwardly as shown at 23 in Fig. 6. A flame issuing from the burner with this form of lip will shoot forwardly and upwardly in a curved flame in such manner as to most efficiently heat the boiler. The type of spraying plate used inthe embodiment just described is most eflective Where the. oil is fed to the burner under some pr .ssure. The formation of the fan-shaped blaze in this type of burner may be brought about under low pressure of steam, and for this reason there will be little noise or vibration attending the operation of the burner.

Where oil is intended to be fed under the pressure of gravity alone, a different spray plate such as is shown in Figs. 7 and 8 may be substituted for the spraying plate shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. This plate is intended to accommodate heavy oil under pressure or light oil under a force of gravity alone. The upper and lower chambers for the oil and steam are identical with those described in relation to the first embodiment. The central plate however, is formed with a downwardly inclined channel 24, terminating in a curved passage or slit, 25, leading through the plate to the lower side thereof. Forwardly from the opening 2; the channel is closed by the upwardly extending wall 26. On the lower side of the spraying plate the passage 25 issues into a spraying chamber 27 immediately in front of a downwardly extending wall or bridge, 28. This wall separates the spraying chamber 21 from the rear chamber 29 into which the steam issues from the opening 11 in the steam chamber. It allows however, a Hattened opening on the lower side, forn'iing a passage for the steam in a fan-shaped jetfrom the rearward chamber. This jet is adapted to strike against the film of oil which is drawn downwardly by the force of the steam from the oil channel above. This steam and oil is thrown forwardly against the downwardly curved wall of the chamber 27 and issues through the constricted passage 30- from the nozzle of the burner. The injector action of the steam which issues under some jiiressure through the opening 28 will draw the fuel oil from the chamber above and project it out in a flattened fan-shaped spray from the nozzle. This'form of burner functions in the same way as does the en'ibodiment previously described, except that the oil is not so thoroughly atomized before it issues from the nozzle, but due to the greater force of the steam or the lighter gravity of the oil, will cause a thorough combustion of the fuel.

The advantages of this type of burner will be readily understood by one skilled in the art. It is light and easily portable; it is made of separate parts which may be dis assembled and new parts substituted as desired. It is capable of expansion without seriously injuring the parts of the burner; the steam and oil mingling in the same chamber and issuing from the nozzle makes the burner practically self-cleaning; the atomizingof the oil before it issues from the nozzle will lead to most'eflicient. combustion,

and hence to a" great economy in fuel. Less steam also will be required, and because of the low pressure the drumming and vibration will be practically eliminated. The lip of the nozzle may be so formed as to direct the spray upward, so as to fill the entire fire box with the blaze.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In an oil burner, an upper oil chamber open on its flattened lower face, a lower steam chamber having a flattened upper face and an opening for steam therein, a spray plate between said chambers having the lower face thereof recessed to form a steam inlet chamber and a mixing chamber, a spraying wall between said chambers having a flattened steam passage and two converging passages abovesaid flattened passage, an oil inlet forwardly from said wall, and a downwardly curved forward wall to said spraying chamber, there being a flattened spray opening at the forward end of said spray chamber.-

2. In an oil burner, an upper oil chamber having a flattened lower open face, a lower steam chamber, a flattened upper face thereon open toward its rearward end, a spray plate between said chambers having a perforation therein for the passage of oil, the lower side of said plate being recessed vertically to form a steam inlet chamber and a mixing chamber, a spraying wall between said chambers having converging openings therein and an additional flattened steam passage whereby oil entering said mixing chamber through said perforation will be atomized and vaporized, there being a flattened discharge nozzle on said burner.

3. In an oil burner, an upper oil chain-- ber having its lower face open. a lower steam chamber having an upper steam opening therein. a flat spraying plate fitting tightly between said chambers. the lower face of said plate being recessed to form a steam inlet chamber. and a forward mixing chamber. a wall separating said chambers having two lateral forwardly converging openings therein and a central. opening. said wall being shortened to provide a flattened passage along its lower edge. an inlet for oil to said mixing chamber. there being a discharge opening from said mixing chamber. and a forwardly extending lip on the said steam chamber for the purpose described.

4. In an oil burner, oil and steam chamhere, a flattened spray plate fitting tightly between said chambers and against which said chambers are adapted to discharge, the face of said plate adjacent said steam chamher being recessed to provide a mixing chamber having an opening therein from the oil chamber, there being passages to said mixing chamber from the steam chamber adapted to admit steam thereto to agitate and atomize said oil, and a forwardly inclined wall for said mixing chamber leading to a flattened discharge opening. 7

5. In an oil burner, oil and steam chambers, a flattened spray plate between said chambers, the face of said spray plate adjacent said steam chamber being recessed to provide a mixing chamber, a perforated wall between said mixing chamber and the steam inlet. the said plate having a transverse opening from said oil chamber to said mixing chamber, and a nozzle having a con stricted opening through which said oil is projected in atomized condition from said mixing chamber to the furnace.

6. In an oil burner, oil and steam chambers, a flattened spray plate between said chambers, a mixing chamber formed on the lower face of said plate. there being a passage for oil through said plate to said mixing chamber, and a plurality of steam passages to said chamber. and an outlet discharge nozzle from said mixing chamber.

7. In an oil burner, oil and steam chambers, a spraying plate between said chambers, a mixing chamber formed in the lower face of said plate, means to atomize and heat the oil in said mixing chamber and means to discharge said oil in an upwardly curved spray therefrom including a forward upwardly curved lip on said steam chamber.

8. In an oil burner, oil and steam chambers, a spraying plate between said chambers. said plate being recessed on its lower face to provide steam inlet and mixing chambers, a removable and replaceable wall between said chambers through which steam is projected in converging jets to said mixing chamber. means to feed oil to said mix- 1 ing chamber and a discharge nozzle from said burner at the forward end of said ch amber.

In testimony whereof. I hereunto affix my signature this the 13th day of September. A.

EDWARD IV. THOMAS. 

